_Index Educational Opportunities.pdf _Joint SMAa-KNMA Educational Opportunities WR.pdf Deprivation, Unemployment, The educational benefits of the scheme, STEM Education, Careers and Industry Involvement, a) schools, b) post 16 Educational opportunities and training will enable local people to achieve the qualifications and skills they need to be employable at a reopened airport. Appendix 1.pdf Appendix 10.pdf Appendix 11.pdf Appendix 12.pdf Appendix 13.pdf Appendix 14.pdf Appendix 15.pdf Appendix 2.pdf Appendix 3.pdf Appendix 4.pdf Appendix 5.pdf Appendix 6.pdf Appendix 7.pdf Appendix 8.pdf Appendix 9.pdf TR020002 – Manston Airport - Written Representation Ref:20011948 Educational Opportunities – Socio-economic issues SE ii, SE iii, SE v, SE vii, SE viii Introduction We are writing as Vice Chair of Kent Needs Manston Airport and Vice Chair of Save Manston Airport Association, which both support the RSP DCO application in full, and as such agree with all aspects of the application [APP-001 to APP-087]. Although they are separate organisations, they share a common goal to see local people benefit from gaining the necessary skills and qualifications, through the appropriate provision of education, training and apprenticeships, to enable as many of them as possible to gain employment. We have been working with the applicant to find the best ways to bring this about. This Written Representation will concentrate on the Educational Opportunities and we will make further submissions on Jobs, Training and Apprenticeships throughout the Examination Process. Data, methodology and assumptions We have tried to access information/data from reputable sources and quoted relevant passages using quotation marks. In each case we have used a footnote which indicates the name of the relevant appendix and, where possible the page number, paragraph or table/figure number. We have then submitted these appendices as PDF attachments. In some cases, such as data from web pages we have taken screenshots and then converted to PDFs. If we have referred to documents in the Examination Library, we used the appropriate document reference from the EL and put it in square brackets with a footnote. The footnote will indicate the relevant page number and paragraph number, table, diagram or figure where possible. N.B. 1) Some documents, for example audio recordings, are not yet in the EL so we have used their full name in the footnote with the approximate start time indicated. 2) The background for this submission is the same as for Investment, Jobs and regeneration as it is applicable to both. We have tried to avoid using assumptions by applying the methods described above but on occasions we have used our personal experiences as educationalists. 1 Executive Summary Evidence makes it clear that Thanet continues to be the most deprived local authority1 in Kent and has the highest 18-24 year old unemployment in the South East. The situation is not much better in Canterbury, Dover and Swale. 2 The majority of enterprises in East Kent employ 0-4 people and very few employ over 250 people.3 A reopened airport, by the applicant, will be a significant employer in the area even by year two of operation.4 It is the stated aim of the applicant to employ as many local people5 as possible and this will involve them having access to the appropriate educational opportunities and training. Engagement between the applicant and educational providers is already underway6 and will continue. Evidence from multiple sources (PCP Market Research,7 CEO STEM Learning,8 the Aspires Project,9 the APPG on Diversity and Inclusion,10 Anthony Mann et al.,11 the Gatsby Charitable Foundation12 and the Department for Education13 all indicate that employers can play a key role in education, particularly careers. At present there is evidence that there is a shortage of people with the necessary skills and qualifications14 but with the involvement of employers, like the applicant, and with educational providers, pupils can be made aware of the job opportunities, work experience opportunities, give them access to the appropriate courses, and raise their motivation and aspirations. This application brings real hope to the area because it will be transformational in so many ways. 1 Appendix 1 – page 1 2 Appendix 2 – page 2 3 Appendix 3 – page 6 table 3 and table 4 4 [APP – 085] – Volume IV page 28 table 4 5 [APP – 085] – Volume IV page 38 6 Recording of ISH – Afternoon Session Part 1 at 1:06:16 7 Appendix 4 - page 2 paragraph 2 8 Appendix 4 – page 4 9 Appendix 5 – page 5 column 2 10 Appendix 7 11 Appendix 10 – page 13 paragraph 3 12 Appendix 11 – page 6 13 Appendix 14 – page 26 point 62 14 Appendix 4 – page 2 paragraph 2 2 BacKground a) Deprivation According to figures produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and published by Kent County Council (KCC) looking into the index of multiple deprivation (2015): “Thanet continues to rank as the most deprived Local Authority in Kent”15 Out of 326 Local Authorities, Thanet is now ranked 28th, which is 21 places worse than in 2010.16 Thanet is within the top (worst) 10% most deprived Authorities in England. N.B. The lower the ranking number the more deprived the area. England is divided into 32,844 Lower Super Output Areas (LSOA) each with a population of 1,500. Cliftonville West 001A (in Thanet) is 4th out of 32,844 LSOAs. Thanet has 14 LSOAs within the top 10% most deprived LSOAs in England.17 b) Unemployment Using information from the Office for National Statistics Claimant Count (Dec 2018) published by KCC: Thanet has the highest unemployment rate (in Kent) at 5.2%. That compares very poorly with the Kent figure of 2.2% and Great Britain 2.4%.18 The situation for the young is even worse. “Thanet has the highest 18-24 year old unemployment rate in the South East at 8.0%.” In Canterbury, 1.5%, Dover 5.9%, Swale 6.1%, Kent 3.4% and Great Britain 3.2%.19 It is clear from the information above that Thanet and neighboring authorities desperately need jobs that are accessible to local people particularly the young. Referring to information from the Office for National Statistics published by KCC it is shows there are very few enterprises that employ more than 250 people: Canterbury District 30 out of 3,990 (0.6%) Dover District 5 out of 2,530 (0.1%) Swale District 15 out of 3,670 (0.3%) Thanet District 5 out of 2,935 (0.1%)20 In contrast most enterprises employ 0-4 people, Canterbury 75.8%, Dover 75.1%, Swale 76.1% and Thanet 75.9%.20 Unemployment in Kent increased by 3,875 from December 2017 to December 2018 with a quarter of that, 965, being in Thanet alone. Thanet desperately needs jobs. 15 Appendix 1 – page 1 16 Appendix 1 – page 3 table 2 17 Appendix 1 – page 4 18 Appendix 2 – page 1 19 Appendix 2 – page 2 20 Appendix 3 – page 6 table 3 and table 4 3 By any standard, a reopened airport will be a very significant enterprise with the number of jobs projected. By year two, direct jobs projected by the applicant (856) will exceed the 250-job threshold making it one of the major employers in the area. 21 The educational benefits of the scheme It is the stated aim of the applicant to employ as many local people as possible. They intend to: “Work with local councils and 3rd sector organisations to help promote job opportunities to local people, particularly to the long-term unemployed.”22 It was also stated by the applicant that they intend to include this as part of an s.106 agreement.23 To be employable any person will need to have the appropriate skills and qualifications. There are a number of people in the area, including former workers, who have the appropriate skills and qualifications but with the number of jobs forecast it will be necessary to provide training and educational opportunities. As stated in the introduction, this Written Representation will concentrate on the educational opportunities. STEM Education Research conducted by PCP Market Research among a nationally representative sample of Human Resorces and senior decision makers at 400 businesses in STEM industries (excluding micro-businesses) across the UK, between 20th and 30th April 2018 and published by STEM Learning on their web site indicates: “The STEM Skills Indicator reveals that nine in 10 (89%) STEM businesses have found it difficult to hire staff with the required skills in the last 12 months, leading to a current shortfall of over 173,000 workers - an average of 10 unfilled roles per business.”24 21 [APP – 085] – Volume IV page 28 table 4 22 [APP – 085] – Volume IV page 38 23 Recording of ISH – Afternoon Session Part 1 at 1:06:16 24 Appendix 4 – page 2 paragraph 2 4 “Building the future pipeline of skills will therefore be key to maintaining the UK’s standing in the STEM sector. Low awareness of the jobs available (31%) and a lack of meaningful work experience opportunities (35%) are identified by businesses facing recruitment challenges as key barriers to young people considering STEM careers.”25 Yvonne Baker, Chief Executive, STEM Learning said: “STEM Learning bridges the gap between businesses and schools. By working with us to invest in teachers in local schools and colleges, employers can help deliver a world-leading STEM education, inspiring young people and building the pipeline of talent in their area, making it a win-win for everyone.”26 The applicant, together with SMAa and KNMA , have already begun the process of engagement with local schools with a view to finding the best way to make pupils aware of the availability of jobs and future work experience that will occur with a reopened airport.